Brendan Rodgers

[ChrisDR1968]

Are FSG going to back him with the kind of money he needs to do that though?

I think we can recoup around £25m by selling Balotelli and Borini, so someone like Reus or Higuain should be attainable (obviously we will not pay the types of salary they would want though).

Well we have the guy from Lille to come to us next season and obviously Sturridge so that leaves us to buy two strikers.

With the money from any sales hopefully going towards any signings you would hope FSG would stump up the balance of the money needed.

Fingers crossed we can sign a forward on loan in January for the rest of this season as without Sturridge (and the way Rodgers is setting the side up) there simply isn't goals in this team at the mo.

[Bender]

Let's get this straight. We spent a lot of cash but we also recouped a fair bit in sales. And that's without even considering all the money on wages we got back. We also have a fair bit of cash in the bank. This was the year when we started to get a load of cash from sponsors as well as the CL money. That's on top of the money in sales. By everyone's estimations we had a lot of cash left in the kitty this summer.

And if you want that CL cash cow, which goes up AGAIN next year, then you do have to play the market a bit and speculate to accumulate. We definitely won't be silly of course, but we will spend what we have left. I've heard jokers say they may hold the cash and not back Rodgers, as in saving the money for a possible new manager in the summer. I'm sorry but that's crap. Even if he doesn't finish top 4, he would definitely get another season.

We will spend in January, if the players are available of course. They weren't in the summer, so there's nothing to say they will be in January either which in general is a more difficult market.

I doubt they will back the manager with more cash especially when the current group of signings are having very little impact.

[Bender]

Brendan Rodger Pre Chelsea Match Conference..........

LINK
On team selection against Madrid:

“I put out the best team on Tuesday that could get a result. My players were magnificent, I think the criticism is a disservice to them.

“We had a game plan against the best team in the world right now, to stay in the game, control. We then opened up the game with the subs.

“The idea was to be in the game still after 65 minutes, which we did, then use Steven’s passing ability, Raheem’s pace and Coutinho’s creativity.

“I was very proud of the players and the supporters — over 4,000 of them there giving the team a great backing. The criticism is unfair.

“To call Kolo Toure, Lucas Leiva or Adam Lallana a “reserve”? Those players deserve more praise than that.

“I know in my heart that I make decisions in the best interest of Liverpool FC. The performance spoke louder than any words I can say.



“What’s befitting of this club is keeping it at the top of where it should be and ensure we’re competing in the Champions League.

“What’s hard for journalists is you don’t know the full extent of who could play. Gerrard had a scan the day before.

“Kolo Toure and Martin Skrtel were outstanding. Kolo is a leader on and off the pitch, he knows the deal with his game time here.”



On Daniel Sturridge‘s injury:

“Daniel Sturridge was out on the field with the rehab team today, but he’s still a way off returning.”

On Divock Origi (who is playing for Lille at Everton on Thursday night):

“We’re in regular contact with him. He’s a big talent, for someone so young, we’re looking at aspects of his game for him to improve in.”

On Chelsea:

“This weekend’s game against Chelsea is obviously a big game. We’ll have learnt from last season’s defeat to them, it’ll be tough though. They’re the best team in the league at the moment, that’s why they are top of the league.

“When we play at Anfield, no matter the opponent, we have every confidence we can go on and get a result.

“This game offers us a great chance at home to get a result and can kick-start the season for us.”

On Gerrard’s mistake vs Chelsea last season:

“I think Gerrard recovering mentally shows the magnificent response from him. There was no blame, just unfortunate.

“He was instrumental to our run last year and how well we played. He’s a big character and bounced back well from that.

“This isn’t a computer game. We’re dealing with the reality of lots of games in a short space of time. We need to make changes.”

On having not returned a voicemail from Roy Hodgson:

“Mine and Roy Hodgson’s relationship is fine. I got Roy’s voicemail, but there was no need to get back straight away. No problem.

[meffin]

What's the stuff about a voicemail?

[Pablo]

On the subject of Origi, Lille have been a disaster this year, worse than us . If he was playing in an attacking team he'd be doing much better IMO. Looking forward to seeing how he gets on tonight, but he gets such poor service it will likely be tough for him.

[Bender]

What's the stuff about a voicemail?

No idea,probably England/Liverpool players ....and would you return his voicemail

[red g]

On the subject of Origi, Lille have been a disaster this year, worse than us . If he was playing in an attacking team he'd be doing much better IMO. Looking forward to seeing how he gets on tonight, but he gets such poor service it will likely be tough for him.

no good coming to us t the moment then

[peekay]

Your last sentence is the crux of the issue. The guy can't win. If you're not winning games at this football club you will get criticism. Each club has an expectation level, most are unrealistic. Last season Rodgers took a team that had previously finished behind Everton for two years running and took us the closest we've been to the title since our last victory. He smashed through expectation levels.

Last year Spurs spent over £100m and Rodgers himself said that if a club spends that much you should be challenging for the title. This year we've done a Spurs in that we sold our best player and spent a huge wad to compensate. Realistically, our expectation levels should have dropped.

During the time of the Suarez sale and big spend, I listened to a podcast by The Anfield Wrap. They posed a question to all of their contributors - Would you accept 84 points if offered it right now? I may not exactly remember the points total, but it was basically a guarantee of finishing second or third. Now I would say many of them who contribute are very knowledgable. But the decision was split. Many felt consolidation would be perfect and would accept that. The other lot said no. They wanted to fight for the title and they thought we had a very good chance, so why settle for less? We are Liverpool Football Club etc etc.

This to me perfectly shows the raised levels of expectation. And that is what Rodgers is battling. He had created a rod for his own back by getting fans to believe again. Last year we hoped for 4th. This is our first season back in the CL for 5 years, yet many of us now believe we have a devine right to 4th. Despite us selling without question one of the best 5 footballers in the world. 3rd best in my eyes.

But that's football for you. I think we should back Rodgers all the way. He deserves it after last season. But he knows far better than me that if results don't go our way he'll be taking **** from all angles.

You have made some very good posts over the last two weeks DM. I do have one subtle objection to this post though.

Last season's run raised expectations for sure. But I dont think last season's run is creating a rod for Rodgers back. In fact I think it is the one creating some leeway for him. If we did not have last season's run and we started this season this way, the pressure on Rodgers and the disgruntlement among supporters would be far worse.

[danperkins]

You have made some very good posts over the last two weeks DM. I do have one subtle objection to this post though.

Last season's run raised expectations for sure. But I dont think last season's run is creating a rod for Rodgers back. In fact I think it is the one creating some leeway for him. If we did not have last season's run and we started this season this way, the pressure on Rodgers and the disgruntlement among supporters would be far worse.

[jw54]

I don't know whether the views expressed here are representative of the team's total fan base, but for years we have looked to league performances from 20 plus years in the past. Last seasons performance has brought that history much closer and now that is the benchmark for many supporters. Realistically we punched above our weight and now BR is paying the price with this season's expectations from many. My caveat for this is that sometimes BR does himself no favours by comments he makes ie the Spurs comparison.
However I still believe that he will eventually get it right.


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[RedRum]

So this year is probably going to be a write off like the first year in charge but if Rodgers keeps the job we should be winning the title next season. ****ing yaaaas man

[alonso14]

brendan has taken a lot of stick for making those changes vs real. If its a case of him prioritising the chelsea game over real madrid and resting them then i think he deserves all the stick he gets. But if he dropped them because they were underperforming and generally rubbish then he deserves a lot of credit.

the majority of our first eleven have been terrible this season whether its down to tactics or whatever but they didnt deserve to play at the bernabeu. at the end of their careers players remember playing at places like madrid and barca and unfortunately our lot havent done enough to merit that.

also for the first time i enjoyed watching brendans post match press conference where he was totally honest. there was none of his usual david brent stuff just an honest assessment of our game and that our first eleven had lost at newcastle and could equally have lost heavily tonight.

big game tomorrow so we hope that those lads like lovren face up to the fact that theyve been terrible and start taking some responsibility for their own performances.

[danperkins]

The press are going to have a field day if Chelsea beat us. No player has played well enough this season to be considered a banker first teamer IMO but i do suspect Rodgers does see some that way and was resting a few players. Personally i don't think there was anything wrong with the team selection apart from Markovic but he really is taking a bit of a pasting in the media.

[captainfog]

Markovic was good against RM.

[Kenneth]

But not very.